Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
for. a. solution.. The. consultant. can. be. made. a. part. of. your. team. by. providing. full.
information.and.support..This.will.ensure.that.the.greatest.value.is.reaped.from.the.
investment.in.the.consultant.
FInAl hIrIng stePs
To.summarize,.the.primary.steps.for.employing.a.consultant.are
. 1.. The.company.must.know.what.it.wants.from.the.beginning.
. 2.. A.scope.of.work.should.be.put.in.writing.
. 3.. Use.a.bid.process.for.selecting.the.consultant.
. 4.. Delineate.the.timeline.for.completion.of.work.
. 5.. Decide.who.the.consultant.will.be.reporting.to.
. 6.. Know.the.company's.budget.limitations.(develop.a.formal.budget).
. 7.. Make.sure.that.a.written.contract.exists.
. 8.. Have.the.consultant.give.his.or.her.protocol.for.completing.the.work.
. 9.. Discuss. the. evaluative. approach. being. used. by. the. consultant. prior. to. the.
contract.
. 10.. Have.mechanisms.in.place.to.hold.the.consultant.accountable.for.not.com-
pleting.the.agreed-upon.work.
. 11.. Establish.penalties.for.not.meeting.pre-set.schedules.
. 12.. Have.a.tracking.system.to.evaluate.the.work's.progress.
.
13.. Be. consistent. in. the. expectations. because. each. time. the. scope. of. work. is.
changed.or.delayed.inhibits.progress,.it.will.cost.extra.
.
14.. Follow.good.business.practices.and.maintain.a.professional.relationship.
Before. selecting. a. consultant,. the. oficial. in. charge. should. do. his. homework..
Make.sure.the.consultant.can.service.the.company's.geographic.area.or.multiple.site.
locations,.depending.on.its.needs..Hiring.a.consultant.is.not.an.easy.process..Ensure.
that. the. job. is. not. too. large. for. one. consultant. and. may. require. more. than. what. a.
“friend.down.the.street”.can.offer..Although.the.company.may.be.familiar.with.the.
consultant.from.a.social.relationship,.this.does.not.mean.that.he.or.she.can.and.will.
provide.the.service.needed,.unless.the.company.is.familiar.with.his.or.her.work.from.
previous. efforts. or. work. done. for. company.. The. company. needs. to. consider. what.
happens.in.case.of.illness,.disability,.or.death.of.the.consultant..A.contingency.plan.
should.exist.as.to.how.the.work.will.continue.if.some.unfortunate.event.transpires..
If.special.equipment.is.needed.for.sampling,.for.example,.visit.the.consultant's.ofice.
to.ensure.that.he.or.she.have.the.necessary.resources.to.accomplish.what.he.or.she.
are.committing.to.do.
In.summary,.check.the.background.of.the.consultant;.it.should.include.the.con-
sultant's.education,.industrial.experience,.membership.in.professional.organizations,.
and.any.certiication..This.is.just.a.starting.point..Procure.and.check.the.consultant's.
referrals..The.more.invested.in.a.consultant,.the.more.referrals.and.the.more.amount.
of.homework.that.needs.to.be.done..Obtain.copies.of.previous.contracts.and.reports,.
and.review.them.for.quality,.professionalism,.and.depth.of.information..A.respon-
sible.consultant.will.be.happy.to.provide.samples.of.his.or.her.work.
